WSDS 2021 Redefining Our Common Future: Safe and Secure Environment for All

Due to the unprecedented global impact of COVID-19, the 20th edition of TERI’s flagship event the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) was held entirely online from February 10–12, 2021. In two decades, the Summit series has achieved a position of repute in bringing together governments, policymakers, business leaders, academicians, scientists, youth and civil society in the fight against climate change and in promoting the agenda of sustainable development.

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The 20th edition of WSDS was organized under the broad theme of ‘Redefining Our Common Future: Safe and Secure Environment for All’. We were deeply honoured to have the Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi join us virtually to inaugurate the proceedings. He was joined in the proceedings by dignitaries around the world including; Hon. James Marape (Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea), Ms Amina J Mohammed (Deputy Secretary General, United Nations), and H.E. Dr Mohammed Irfan Ali (President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana). The Prime Minister highlighted how the global poor were the most impacted by climate change and called on all of us to be large-hearted and to think of the bigger picture when fighting climate change. Shri Prakash Javadekar (Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India) acknowledged the dedication of WSDS through the years in promoting sustainable development and its growth into an internationally recognized forum that promotes thoughtful discussions that create an actionable agenda for future sustainable conferences.

The online summit had an E-Expo with WSDS partners showcasing their work in 3D virtual stalls and opportunities for attendees to break-off for ‘networking sessions’ online. The main proceedings saw 10 plenary discussions and 20 thematic track discussions organized broadly under the mega-themes for the summit—Energy Transition, Clean Oceans, Adaptation & Resilience, Women on the Rise, Industry Transition, Circular Economy, Air Pollution, Nature-based Solutions, and Green Growth.